Manny Ita –
The Federal Government has announced the appointment of Professor Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu as the new Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), marking a significant leadership change in the country’s oil and gas capacity development agency.
Professor Aliyu takes over from Ahmed Galadima Aminu, whose tenure at the helm of the organisation has come to an end. The appointment, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional effectiveness and reposition key government agencies for improved performance.
The PTDF plays a critical role in developing indigenous human capacity and technological expertise for Nigeria’s petroleum industry. It is responsible for awarding scholarships, funding research, and supporting training programmes aimed at enhancing local participation in the oil and gas sector.
Professor Aliyu is expected to bring his wealth of academic and administrative experience to bear in his new role. His appointment comes at a time when the Federal Government is prioritising local content development, innovation, and technical capacity building to reduce dependence on foreign expertise in the energy sector.
Stakeholders within the industry anticipate that the new Executive Secretary will consolidate on existing programmes while introducing reforms to improve efficiency, transparency, and the overall impact of the fund’s initiatives.
The leadership transition is seen as part of a broader strategy to align the operations of key institutions like the PTDF with the government’s economic diversification agenda and long-term energy goals.
